Big business declares war on the community: Greens
Today’s (Wed) call to strip down environmental processes and fast track everything – mining mega-developments to shopping centres – is a war on the Australian people’s quality of life and the environment by the big end of town, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.
“The idea of not providing protections for wild and scenic Australia as the big mining corporations roll in and do what they like will horrify Australians who respect this nation’s wildlife and scenic beauty,” Senator Brown said.
“These big corporations, many foreign owned, want to bulldoze decades of environmental law which is too flimsy and inadequately policed as it is. Let’s streamline environmental laws by making them tougher and protective of the natural values of this nation.
“The prospect of six mega coal ports inside the Great Barrier Reef, and the Minister for the Environment Tony Burke recommending world heritage areas as a dumping ground for dredging spoil, demonstrates the inadequacy of Australia’s national laws on the environment right now, let alone any further weakening,” Senator Brown said.
• Not too late to slow the mining gravy train: Brown
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today welcomed the AWU’s support for the Greens’ advocacy of a mining tax package that delivers a fair return and sets aside funds for future generations in a sovereign wealth fund.
“We want a 40% super profits mining tax so the largely foreign-owned mining companies pay their fair share for the resources owned by the Australian people,” Senator Brown said.
“A mining tax package which delivers a fair return and sets aside funds for the future would help to re-balance the budget without miserly cuts to services, as would abolishing fossil fuel subsidies.
“A stronger mining tax would have the added benefit of slowing the mining boom, potentially reducing upward pressure on the exchange rate and taking the pressure off other sectors of the economy – as the Treasury has advised.
“The government should, at the very least, move in next month’s budget to axe the $2 billion diesel subsidy mining companies receive unlocking further much-needed revenue for health, education, public transport and a down-payment on a national dental care program,” Senator Brown said.
• Attack on environmental laws unsustainable: Brown
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today condemned the government-business agenda to wreck environmental laws.
“There is no evidence that delays are jeopardising the viability of any projects. The boom is still booming. In fact, no major resource extraction projects have been refused under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act,” Senator Brown said.
“The Gillard government is already allowing six mega coal ports inside the Great Barrier Reef and has recommended this world heritage area as a dumping ground for dredging spoil. Some 10,000 coal ships per year, or more than one an hour, are forecast to make their way through the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area by 2020, up 480% from 2011.
“Australia’s environmental laws are weak and inadequately policed now. Now business is proposing whole areas be quarantined for their own purposes.
“Let’s streamline environmental laws by making them tougher and more protective of the natural values of this nation, not protective of business interests seeking profits at the expense of the Australian people’s natural wealth, wildlife and scenic beauty,” Senator Brown said.
“At a time when more money should be invested in education, not less, there are reports that assessments are being delayed by a lack of suitably qualified environmental experts employed by governments. Let’s rectify that immediately, providing the funds needed to support the tertiary education sector, the environment and Australia’s economic transition.”
